Texas HR 962: Honoring Martha Thomas and The Defensive Line for their efforts to prevent youth suicide.

Bill Text

89(R) HR 962 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

  

  

  
 H.R. No. 962

  

  

   

 R E S O L U T I O N

   

        WHEREAS, The Defensive Line is a nonprofit organization 

  

 dedicated to suicide prevention, and the group's cofounder and 

  

 chief education officer, Martha Thomas, is visiting the Capitol on 

  

 May 1, 2025; and

  

        WHEREAS, A resident of Coppell, Mrs. Thomas helped establish 

  

 The Defensive Line in 2021 after the tragic suicide of her 

  

 24-year-old daughter, Ella, in January 2018; cofounded with her 

  

 husband, Chris Thomas, and their son, Dallas Cowboys defensive 

  

 lineman Solomon Thomas, The Defensive Line seeks to end the 

  

 epidemic of youth suicide, especially for young people of color, by 

  

 transforming the way we communicate and connect about mental 

  

 health; and

  

        WHEREAS, After working in education for more than 30 years, 

  

 Mrs. Thomas left teaching in 2022 to devote herself full-time to The 

  

 Defensive Line; drawing on her insights into the realities of the 

  

 classroom, she educates participants about suicide prevention 

  

 through the organization's workshops, which guide teachers and 

  

 leaders through the facts of youth suicide, particularly for people 

  

 of color, and prepare them to address mental health crises, 

  

 initiate difficult conversations, develop an action plan, and 

  

 create a safe environment; Mrs. Thomas has led programming 

  

 partnerships in the Dallas and Fort Worth Independent School 

  

 Districts and at Baylor University and Stanford University, and she 

  

 is a popular podcast guest and keynote speaker; she and her husband 

  

 serve as faculty members of the American Academy of Pediatrics and 

  

 are involved with Project ECHO, its telementoring program; and

  

        WHEREAS, The Defensive Line has called much-needed attention 

  

 to the issue of youth suicide and to the actions that can be taken to 

  

 help save lives, and it is a pleasure to join in recognizing Martha 

  

 Thomas and her colleagues for their steadfast commitment to this 

  

 worthy cause; now, therefore, be it

  

        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas 

  

 Legislature hereby honor Martha Thomas and The Defensive Line for 

  

 their efforts to prevent youth suicide and extend to all those 

  

 affiliated with the organization sincere best wishes for continued 

  

 success with their important work; and, be it further

  

        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 

  

 prepared for Mrs. Thomas as an expression of high regard by the 

   

 Texas House of Representatives.

  

   

 Garcia Hernandez

   

   

 ______________________________

   

 Speaker of the House     

  

   

        I certify that H.R. No. 962 was adopted by the House on June 

   

 1, 2025, by a non-record vote.

   

   

 ______________________________

   

 Chief Clerk of the House